NETHER WHITACRE St Giles 6, 10-1-0 in G

History

The church consists of a chancel with a north vestry and organ-chamber, nave, south porch, and west tower. The tower dates from the 16th century—the first half or middle—but the remainder of the building has no ancient features except the jambs of the east window and the rubble walling, which may be 14th-century work. The building was restored in 1870: this seems to have included the rebuilding of the south wall of the nave and the complete renovation of the windows and doorways of the nave and chancel, and new roofs and furniture. The resetting of a number of carved stones in the tower walls, most of them apparently of the 14th century, may perhaps indicate an earlier tower.

These bells, a complete Smith ring of 1725, originally rang out at Hampton in Arden, Warks (q.v.), but became surplus to requirements when the former Miles Platting, Manchester, ring of eight was installed at Hampton in 1975-6. The "old" ring was transferred to Nether Whitacre in 1976-7. As part of this scheme the bells were retuned, turned and their canons were removed. A new metal "lowside" frame and standard fittings were supplied with the ring. The tenor is in the key of G-47c.

One bell from the former three (No. 2 by Newcombe,) was preserved for use as a clock bell; the remaining two being sold to Coleshill, Warwickshire, the metal being used as part of their scheme for rehanging and augmentation to 10, completed in 1977. The churchwardens account for 1640 give details of expenditure on a new bellframe and this may have been the one removed from the tower when the six were installed. The three bells all swung north - south.

A new upstairs ringing room was created in 2002.

Look for the sign towards the parish church off the main road through the village, the B4098. You can park by the churchyard gate.